Meghalaya Ready for New COVID Variant, Says Health Minister—No Need to Panic

Shillong, May 29: Minister in-charge of Health & Family Welfare, Ampareen Lyngdoh has assured that the Meghalaya state government is prepared to tackle emergency situations that may arise due to the new variant of COVID-19, even as she appealed to the citizens to follow strict protocols to prevent any outbreak in the state.

Speaking to media persons today, Lyngdoh said there is a new variant of COVID-19, which is or has resurfaced in certain pockets across the globe and in view of this, the government has held reviews on the state’s preparedness.

“If you are asking whether or not we are prepared, I am saying yes but reiterating the fact that we should not panic. Covid today is like a flu of the 19th century when there was no medication that was even generated to combat influenza in those years but today with Covid, the state government is prepared and is monitoring the situation,” she added.

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Emphasizing the importance of public participation to prevent the Covid outbreak in the state, the minister said, “First, if anyone has a prolonged cough, fever or any symptoms which is indicative of Covid, please go and test yourself immediately. Two, if and when the tests indicate positive, please follow all COVID protocols and adhere to them. One must remember that we are now very familiar with the SOPs of COVID and COVID-like situations, requesting all citizens of Meghalaya to take necessary care. Prevention is better than cure, especially in the matter of COVID-19.”

Further, Lyngdoh informed that the government of India has assured that a robust system is put in place to deal with the new variant of COVID-19.

“We have had several government of India reviews on this matter and we have been given the assurance that this time covid though a new variant is under control and that government of India themselves are aggressively putting in place robust system to deal with the matter especially in states where there have been cases reported,” she said adding, “Hopefully, everything should be fine and as a state government, we want to assure the people that we will take all measures as and when required to address any emergency situation that may arise.”

The minister further assured that Meghalaya has enough oxygen resources, ICU beds, and medicines in stock and said, “That is what the government of Meghalaya has reviewed and is prepared.”

The minister responded in the affirmative, saying that all PHCs and CHCs are productively utilizing all the infrastructures built during the COVID period.

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“Yes, the centre at Byrnihat is the only centre which we have not decided specifically how to reuse those facilities, but I want to assure the people that yes we are working hard, and we hope that having built all that infrastructure, all centres across the state should ensure that we reutilized such centres,” she said.

“I went for a tour to Pariong and I was pleasantly surprised to see that the prefab structure that was specifically built during COVID has now been converted into a paediatric training centre for newborn babies. These are the kinds of innovations and actions taken by various centres across the state,” she added.

(Newmai News Network)